ROHM's New MOSFET Secures AI's Future with Power and Efficiency

KYOTO, Japan – January 20, 2026 – As the artificial intelligence boom accelerates, the colossal energy appetite of data centers has become a critical challenge. In response, semiconductor manufacturer ROHM has unveiled a new power MOSFET, the RS7P200BM, designed to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the very systems powering the AI revolution.

This 100V component, housed in a compact 5.0mm x 6.0mm package, targets the heart of modern AI server power systems. It is specifically engineered for hot-swap circuits, which are essential for maintaining the continuous operation required by generative AI and high-performance GPU workloads. By delivering what the company calls industry-leading performance in a small footprint, the new MOSFET addresses the intertwined demands for power, efficiency, and density that define the next generation of computing infrastructure.

The 48-Volt Revolution in AI Data Centers

The development of components like the RS7P200BM is a direct response to a fundamental shift in data center architecture: the migration from traditional 12-volt power systems to 48-volt standards. This transition is no longer a niche trend but a widespread industry movement, driven by the sheer power requirements of modern AI hardware. Processors and GPUs, with power draws climbing into the thousands of watts per chip, have pushed 12V systems to their absolute limits.

Distributing the same amount of power at 48V instead of 12V reduces the electrical current by a factor of four. According to the principles of physics, this seemingly simple change results in a sixteen-fold reduction in resistive power losses (I²R losses) within the power distribution network. This translates into significant gains in overall energy efficiency, a crucial metric for hyperscale data centers where electricity is a primary operational cost. Industry estimates suggest that 48V systems can cut energy loss by at least 25% compared to their 12V predecessors.

The Open Compute Project (OCP), a consortium that includes major hyperscalers like Microsoft and Meta, has endorsed 48V as the standard for meeting the evolving electrical and thermal demands of modern data centers. The benefits extend beyond pure efficiency. Thinner, lighter cables can be used, freeing up valuable space within densely packed server racks and improving airflow. This reduction in wasted heat also lessens the immense burden on cooling systems, which can account for up to 40% of a data center's total electricity consumption.

Balancing Power, Size, and Safety

While the move to 48V solves many problems, it creates new challenges for component designers. Power MOSFETs used in these systems must be able to handle higher voltages reliably, especially in demanding applications like hot-swapping, where a server module can be replaced while the system remains online. During a hot-swap event, the circuit must safely manage large inrush currents and potential overload conditions.

This is where a MOSFET's Safe Operating Area (SOA) becomes critical. SOA defines the voltage and current conditions under which the device can operate without being damaged. A wider SOA means greater robustness and reliability. However, achieving a wide SOA often comes at the expense of higher on-resistance (RDS(on)), a key measure of a MOSFET's efficiency. Lower on-resistance means less energy is wasted as heat during normal operation.

ROHM's new RS7P200BM is engineered to master this trade-off. The device achieves a low on-resistance of 4.0 milliohms while maintaining a wide SOA, capable of handling 7.5 amps for 10 milliseconds at a 48V operating voltage. This balance ensures both high efficiency during steady-state operation and rock-solid reliability during high-stress events, preventing system failures and ensuring the uptime crucial for AI services.

Furthermore, the component's miniaturization is a key innovation. Housed in a DFN5060-8S package, it allows for higher-density mounting compared to the company's previous-generation RY7P250BM, which used a larger 8x8mm package. This progression allows server designers to pack more performance into smaller spaces, a critical factor in maximizing computing power per rack.

Enabling Denser, More Sustainable AI Hardware

The impact of such component-level innovations reverberates throughout the entire data center ecosystem. By providing a smaller, more efficient, and more reliable power-switching solution, the RS7P200BM directly enables the design of more compact and powerful AI servers. With real estate in data centers at a premium, increasing computational density—the amount of processing power per square foot—is a primary goal for hardware architects.

The efficiency gains delivered by the low on-resistance directly contribute to lower operational costs. Less power wasted as heat means a reduced need for energy-intensive cooling, leading to a better Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) ratio and lower electricity bills. For a hyperscale data center, even a fractional improvement in efficiency can translate into millions of dollars in savings and a significantly reduced carbon footprint over the facility's lifetime.

Beyond AI servers, the robust characteristics of the new MOSFET make it suitable for a range of other 48V applications, including power supplies for industrial equipment like forklifts and robots, battery management systems for automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). This versatility highlights the growing importance of efficient and reliable 48V power management across multiple technology sectors.

As ROHM continues to expand its lineup of power devices for 48V systems, it joins other industry leaders like Infineon and onsemi in a competitive race to supply the foundational components for next-generation infrastructure. While each company emphasizes different strengths, the collective focus on improving efficiency, density, and reliability is essential for sustaining the rapid growth of AI. These seemingly small components are, in fact, the silent workhorses making a more powerful and energy-conscious digital world possible.